Jim Waller of Warren has been hunting during the archery deer season, but Thursday’s firearms deer season opener had him getting geared up.

“Nature is one of my hobbies,” said Waller, who was looking to purchase a .12-guage shotgun and a blind cover in anticipation of Thursday’s gun opener.

“I’ve been hunting on farm fields in Berville for three years: not a big hunter, but definitely like to go out as much as I can,” Waller said. “I like it more every year.”

Waller, 40, is still looking for his first white-tailed buck, and purchasing some “extra gadgets” at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Troy was his aim.

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“I already have a tree stand but looking for some cover for it,” he said. “I’ve been hunting with a bow. It hasn’t been that good because the weather has been warm, and real breezy. They (deer) don’t like that. But now it’s cold and you can feel it getting colder. Just want to be prepared.”

Waller is one of about 750,000 hunters in Michigan who will purchase a deer hunting license or a combination license. That equates to a lot of business for retailers.

According to statistics, the state of Michigan receives a $500 million economic boost each year from hunting seasons, while about $1 billion is pumped into Michigan as a direct result of deer hunting related things like merchandise, travel, food, gas, and hotel.

Brent Rudolph, a Wildlife Research Specialist with the Department of Natural Resources, said hunters may see lower deer numbers in certain areas this season but he still expects a bountiful year.

Rudolph said there is evidence of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) is affecting white-tailed deer in more than 30 Michigan counties.

The disease is caused by a virus that is transmitted by a type of biting fly. A constant characteristic of EHD is its sudden onset. Deer can suffer extensive internal bleeding, lose their appetite and fear of humans, grow progressively weaker, and salivate excessively and finally become unconscious. Due to a high fever, infected deer often are found sick or dead along or in bodies of water.

Jackson is the furthest east the DNR has seen EHD in the deer population.

“They might see dramatically fewer deer then just watch them rebound once we get through it (EHD),” Rudolph said. “EHD is localized. Numbers will drop a lot in local places.

“(But) it’s hard for us to say how individual hunter will be affected,” he said. “Even if they hunt in a township where this EHD occurred they should see deer, just fewer in numbers.”

In 2008 there was one documented case of EHD in Macomb County; and in 2009 there was a documented case in Livingston County. But since then there had been no cases of EHD until this year.

Rudolph noted that cold weather reduces midge activity and frost kills the adults that bite and transmit the virus, so most outbreaks have slowed if not stopped completely.

Still, Rudolph said hunters will continue to hunt during the firearms season and be successful.

“In southeast Michigan what we’ve seen over the years - with a variety of seasons we have - there has been a stable increase of hunters for archery season but participation for firearms season has dropped,”

Only 578,855 took up firearms in 2011, compared to 593,074 in 2010, according to the DNR.

Still, Rudolph said there are “great hunting opportunities in the state.”

“Hunting in southern Michigan is phenomenal success story,” he said. “Almost no deer at one point and now there are all good areas.”

According to the DNR, hunters killed 214,070 deer during the 2011 firearm deer season. By comparison, hunters killed 220,303 deer in 2010.

“It used to be we go north on November 15 to camp and stay there; and now there are a lot of good hunting areas in southern Michigan, and with bow and muzzleloader seasons, although many do hunt with firearms, there’s just lots of great recreational opportunities,” Rudolph said.

For Waller said he hopes to take advantage of Michigan’s ‘recreational opportunities’ and bag his first buck.

“I’d love to get one this year,” he said. “The rut has started and hopefully the bucks will follow.”

Wetlands Wonders Challenge ongoing

There is still time to enter the Wetland Wonders Challenge.

Duck and goose hunting is in full swing at state-managed waterfowl hunt areas, and there are still plenty of hunting opportunities left in the South Zone waterfowl hunting season.

The Wetland Wonders Challenge continues through the close of the Allegan County Goose Management Unit season on Jan. 22, 2013. Hunters that visit at least four of the seven managed waterfowl hunting areas (MWHAs) will be entered into a drawing to win one of seven ultimate waterfowl hunting prize packages. The MWHAs include: Harsens Island, Allegan State Game Area’s Fennville Farm Unit Fish Point, Muskegon County Wastewater Facility, Nayanquing Point, Pointe Mouillee, and Shiawassee River.

Area managers have reported positive comments about the Wetland Wonders Challenge from hunters.

Each of the seven winners will receive a Ducks Unlimited Remington 887 shotgun, a “golden ticket” good for one first-choice pick at a MWHA for the 2013-14 season (non-reserved), decoys and decoy bag, a call and lanyard, ammunition and gift cards.

Firearms deer season open through Nov. 30. … Ste. Clair Voyageur Group Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at the Lake St. Clair Metropark Nature Center. Monthly programs focus on learning and sharing the rich history of the Great Lakes Fur Trade Era and colonial times. Call (586) 463-4332. … Late archery deer season opens Dec. 1. … Late grouse and late pheasant season opens Dec. 1. … Muzzleloading deer season opens in zones 1 & 3 on Dec. 7. … Bass season closes Dec. 31.

Tom Watts writes a weekly outdoors column for Journal Register Newspapers. He can be reached at wattstksrh@hotmail.com.